Centrifugal pump



July 7, 1970 CONHAGEN 3,519,365

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed. Sept. 30, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 I I m l V VA/V708 Alf/750 (ON/$455M- July 7, 1970 I A. CONHAGEN 3,519,365

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed Sept. 30, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig 8. 1:3} M

23 yr H 5/ I III faw eykw United States Patent 3,519,365 CENTRIFUGALPUMP Alfred Conhagen, 123 Wohockne Road, New Canaan, Conn. 06840 FiledSept. 30, 1968, Ser. No. 763,532 Int. Cl. F04d 13/12, 1/14 U.S. Cl.41588 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A centrifugal pump has a motordriven tube rotated within a stationary cylindrical casing. In therotary tube are partitions defining a plurality of passages. Acylindrical liquid expeller with radialnozzles rotates at the top of thecasing. The passages in the rotary tube communicate directly with thenozzles via an axial passage in the liquid expeller. The liquid expellercan be used as a suction pump without the stationary cylindrical casing.

This invention concerns a centrifugal pump adapted to pump liquids fromwells or ship tanks without the aid of a priming device. The inventioninvolves improvements over those described in my prior Pat. 3,336,875issued Aug. 22, 1967.

In my prior patent, I disclosed a centrifugal pump in which liquid isdrawn up through a rotary tube and discharged into a lower chamber in acasing. From the lower chamber the liquid flows into an upper chamber inthe casing in which is a rotary liquid expeller provided with radialnozzles to discharge liquid centrifugally.

In the present invention, I again provide a centrifugal pump having arotary tube. However, the casing in which the liquid expeller rotates isarranged so that the liquid flows directly from the rotary tube up intothe liquid expeller. This improvement results in smoother, continuousflo-w and faster action of the pump. It is now no longer necessary tofill up a lower reservoir chamber before liquid is discharged from thepump. The liquid expeller is provided with a flared passage tofacilitate upward, centrifugal flow of liquid from the rotary tube. As afurther improvement, the rotary tube is provided with an axial driveshaft to which radial partitions are joined inside the rotary tube.

In a modification of the invention, the liquid expeller is operated as asuction pump without the external stationary casing. The rotary tube isprovided with radial partitions. The rotary tube can be integral with orattached to the liquid expeller. The partitions can be attached to adrive shaft or to the inside of the rotary tube. An annular flange ordarn may be provided at the inlet end of the rotary tube integral withor attached to the tube to guide liquid flow into the partitioned tube.The flange or dam may have a beveled edge 0t facilitate liquid flow intothe partitioned tube. Instead of partitions, the interior of the rotarytube can be formed with a helical groove instead of partitions to guideliquid flow through the tube. v

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a centrifugalpump in which is a rotary tube divided by partitions into passagesthrough which liquid is centrifugally expelled from a tank or well intoa reservoir, and a rotary centrifugal expeller communicating directlywith the rotary tube with both the rotary tube and liquid expellerrotating on a common shaft.

A further object is to provide a centrifugal pump as described, whereinthe liquid expeller has a passage shaped to facilitate liquid flowthrough the tube, this passage having outwardly flared walls or a wallformed with helical groove.

Another object is to provide a centrifugal suction Patented July 7, 1970pump as described, wherein the rotary tube has an annular flange at itsinlet end to guide and facilitate liquid flow into the tube.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing and to the appended claims in which the variousnovel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partially in section of a pumpembodying the invention.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are horizontal sectional views taken on lines 2-2, 33and 44 respectively of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view with portions broken away of a partitionand shaft structure employed in the rotary tube of the pump.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 of another partitionand shaft structure.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the invention with portions broken away ofanother pump embodying the invention.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to a portion of FIG. 1,showing another pump structure according to the invention.

FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 1010 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, partially in section, and similar toFIG. 1 of another pump embodying a modification of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 1212 of FIG.11,

FIG. 13 and FIG. 15 are longitudinal sectional views of two liquidexpellers embodying further modifications of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1414 of FIG. 13.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown pump 10 provided with anelectric drive motor 12 having an axially vertical drive shaft 14. Themotor is mounted in a stationary position by a bracket 20 secured to astationary support 22. The shaft is secured by a coupling 16 to shaft18. Shaft 18 extends axially of a sealing ring 21 in a generallycylindrical axially vertical casing 24 having liquid discharge chamber25. The casing includes a lower cylindrical block 27 and an uppercircular head 28. Annular flanges 23, 31 of the head and block areabutted and secured together by bolts 29. Block 27 has an axial passage32 formed with a recess 26 at its upper end and a recess 33 at its lowerend.

Secured in recess 33 and sealed to casing 24 is an axially verticalstationary cylindrical casing 34. Ball bearing races 36 and 38 aresecured at upper and lower ends of casing 34. Axially disposed in casing34 is a rotary tube 40. This tube is supported by inner rings 37, 39 ofthe ball bearing races and rotates freely inside casing 34.

Secured to the inside of tube 40 is a shaft and partition structure 42.This structure, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1-5, includes shaft 18 towhich three radially disposed partition plates 44 are secured to definethree passages 45 extending the full length of tube 40. The upper end ofshaft 18 extends beyond the partitions through block 27 and head 28.Secured on shaft 18 near its upper end in casing 24 is rotary liquidexpeller 46. This liquid expeller has a cylindrical bottom base portion48, formed with internal radial vanes 48', which is rotatably disposedin recess 26. The upper end of tube 40 is abutted to the bottom face ofthe liquid expeller to form liquid tight, leakproof joint thereat. Theliquid expeller has an upper cylindrical head portion 49 which isrotatably disposed in recess 50 formed in the underside of easing head28. The liquid expeller has four radially disposed discharge nozzles 52.They are axially horizontal and are spaced circumferentially apartaround the expeller. Passages 54 in the nozzles communicate with theupper end of a flaring passage 56 formed axially inside the expeller.The lower narrower end of passage 56 is open to the upper ends ofpassages 45 defined by partition plates 44. A cylindrical sleeve 60depends from head portion 49 of the expeller. This sleeve surrounds andgrips the shaft 18. It also serves as a guide for liquid passingupwardly through flaring passage 56.

Casing 24 has an annular bottom flange 62 provided with holes 63 forreceiving bolts 64. The pump can be mounted on the upper wall 66 of atank 68 containing liquid 69, with casing 34 extending through the toptank opening 70. In order for the pump to be operative, the.

liquid level 72 must be above the bottom open end of tube 40. Whenelectric motor 12 is energized, the expeller 46 and tube 40 withpartition plates 44 are driven at high speed. Liquid enters the passages45 at the open bottom end of tube 40 and climbs up these passages toflaring passage 56. From this passage the liquid flows into nozzles 52and is discharged centrifugally under pressure from outlet port 74opening radially of chamber 25 in which the nozzles 52 rotate. Outletconduit 75 may be connected to port 74 to receive the discharged liquid.

It will be noted that the pump 10 operates mechanically by centrifugalforces induced by the high speed of rotation of tube 40 and expeller 46.The tubes 34 and 40 can be of any desired length depending on the liftof liquid desired. Since tube 40 is spaced from liquid 69 by stationarycasing 34 turbulence and friction are minimized. The pump thus operatesefliciently and is capable of continuous operation at any level ofliquid, provided it covers the bottom of tube opening 41. The pump isheld stationary by bolts 64 on tank wall 66. The freely rotating tube 40is held by the thrust bearing races 36, 38 so that it rotates withoutlateral vibration.

In the shaft and partition plate structure 42 shown in FIG. and FIG. 6,shaft 18 carries partition plates 44 which are secured in slots orgrooves 76 in sides of the shaft. FIG. 7 shows another structure 42 inwhich shaft 18' and partition plates 44 are integrally formed with eachother. This structure can be used in place of the one shown in FIGS.1-6.

In FIG. 8, pump is employed to remove all liquid 79 from a tank 80 inwhich support is provided at bottom wall 82 of the tank rather than attop wall 83. The bottom end of stationary casing 34 seats in cup-likesupport 85 having a cylindrical wall 86 provided with radial ports 88.The bottom end of the tube rests on a seat 89 formed in wall 86. Thisdefines chamber 90 under the casing 34 and tube 40. Liquid 79 entersthrough ports 88 and passes through chamber 90 to passages 45 in rotarytube 40. Support 85 has an annular bottom flange 92 which can be securedto the bottom wall 82 of the tank by bolts 94. Casing 34 extendsupwardly through opening 95 in top wall 83 of the tank. A resilientbuffer ring 96 can be provided in opening 95. The inside diameter ofring 96 is larger than the diameter of casing 34 to provide clearancearound the casing. This clearance allows for movement of a ship in whichthe pump may be installed while pumping liquid out of the tank.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, pump 10A is similar in structure to pump 10 andcorresponding parts are identically numbered. Passage 56a in base 48a ofliquid expeller 46a is defined by a cylindrical bore in the impeller.This bore can be provided with a tapered or frustoconical section 56' toregister with the inner diameter of tube 40 so that liquid flowssmoothly from passages 45 into passage 56a. The lower end of sleeve 60ainside passage 56a can be provided with a tapered or frustoconicalsection 60a. This arrangement facilitates frictionless liquid flow byguiding the liquid outwardly and upwardly as it flows to the expellernozzles 52.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, pump 10B is constructed so that the externalstationary casing 34 is not required. Other parts corresponding to thoseof pumps 10 and 10A are identically numbered. In pump 10B rotary tube40b is an integral part of the liquid expeller 46b. Shaft 18b has athreaded stud 98 at its bottom end on which is engaged a nut 99 securingthe shaft to sleeve 60 of the expeller. Three partitions or partitionplates 44b extend radially inward from tube 40b. These partition platescan be welded or otherwise secured to the tube 40b or they can beintegrally formed therewith. The tube 40b can be any desired length butit must be long enough to reach below the level 72 of liquid 69 in tank68. The tube 40b extends axially through axial passage 32b in block 27bof easing 24b. At the lower inlet end of tube 40b is secured a ring 100having a radial flange 102 extending inwardly of the tube. Partitionplates 44b extend down to the bottom plane of the flange 102. The flange102 serves as a dam over which the liquid is drawn by suction asindicated by arrow B in FIG. 11. The three passages 45b extend the fulllength of tube 40b and communicate with radial passages 54 in nozzles52. When the motor 12 is run at high speed, the liquid is drawn up bysuction and discharged centrifugally from the nozzles and outlet conduit75.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 is shown expeller 460 which can be substituted incasing 24b in place of expeller 46b. Corresponding parts are identicallynumbered. In expeller 46c radial flange 1020 at the bottom of rotarytube 400 is integral with the tube and is formed with a beveled edge 104so that the bottom rim 105 of the flange is located closer to thecentral axis of the tube than the upper edge 106 of the flange.Partition plates 44c extend down to the bottom of flange 1020. Thebeveled edge will facilitate fluid flow into the three passages 45cdefined by the partition plates. The partition plates may be integrallyformed with tube 400 as indicated in FIG. 14 and the tube can be as longas desired as indicated by the broken away parts of the tube andpartition plates in FIG. 13. Tube- 40c can be a separate member which issecured to the bottom of expeller base portion 480 by a joint 108.

In FIG. 15, there is shown another expeller 46d which can replaceexpellers 46b and 460. Parts corresponding to those of expellers 46b and460 are identically numbered. The tube 40d which can have any desiredlength is integral with the expeller and is formed with a helical groove110 for the full length of its inner wall. The groove terminates at thedam defined by annular flange 102d which extends radially inwardly andis integral with tube 40d. When the expeller 46d is rotated by shaft18d, liquid will be guided up over the flange or dam 102d as indicatedby arrow C and along helical groove 110 until it reaches the passage 54in nozzle 52.

In the pumps described, an expeller operates in a chamber which receivesliquid centrifugally discharged from the nozzles of the expeller. Theexpeller may have any desired number of nozzles which may be other thanfour as illustrated. Instead of an electric motor drive, air or steamturbines may be used. They later may be preferred when pumping flammableliquids. Instead of a mounting bracket some other type of mechanicalsupport for the motor can be provided. In any case, the constructionshould be such that the entire unit including motor and pump casings canbe removed. If desired, a thrust bearing can be provided in the pumpcasing to help support the weight of the motor. Sleeve or drag bearingscan be provided at lower ends of the rotary tube to permit it to findits own center of gravity. If desired, the top of the stationarycylindrical casing 34 can be secured to the top of the bank from whichliquid is drawn.

The entire assembly can be operated in an axially horizontal position ifdesired, with both casings 24 and 34 wholly immersed in liquid. For someapplications, the annular flange or dam at the bottom end of the rotarytubes 40b, 40d can be omitted, depending on the length of the rotarytube head of liquid to be lifted, and speed of rotation of the expeller.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A centrifugal pump comprising a stationary, generally cylindricalcasing, said casing having a liquid dis charge chamber therein, saidchamber having an outlet port, said casing being formed with an axialbore; a liquid expeller having a generally cylindrical body with radialnozzles rotatably disposed in said liquid discharge chamber to dischargeliquid centrifugally therein, said nozzles having axial first passages,said body having an axial other passage communicating directly with thepassages in the nozzles; a rotatable driven shaft extending axially ofsaid body for rotating the same; a rotary tube coaxial with saidcylindrical body and rotatable therewith, said tube having an open inletend; means in said tube comprising partition plates disposed radially inthe tube, spaced circumferentially apart, and extending substantiallythe full length of the tube to said inlet end and defining at least onefurther passage communicating with said other passage in said body,whereby liquid is drawn up through said further pasasge in said tube,then through said other passage in said body and radially out of saidbody through the passages in the nozzles; a stationary generallycylindrical other casing, said other casing being non-rotationallysecured at one end thereof to the first named casing at the outer end ofsaid bore, said rotary tube being rotatably disposed within said secondcasing and being concentric and coaxial therewith; and bearing means insaid other casing rotatably supporting the rotary tube.

2. A centrifugal pump as defined by claim 1, further comprising acircumferential radially inwardly extending flange at the inlet end ofthe tube serving as a dam to guide liquid into said further passage.

3. A centrifugal pump as defined by claim 1, further comprising acircumferential radially inwardly extending flange at the inlet end ofthe tube serving as a dam to guide liquid into said further passage,said flange having an inwardly beveled edge to facilitate flow of liquidinto said further passage in the tube.

4. A centrifugal pump as defined by claim 1, wherein said other axialpassage is frusto-conically shaped with its narrow end communicatingwith said further passages in said tube, and with its wider endcommunicating with the passages in said nozzle.

5. A centrifugal pump as defined by claim 1, wherein said other axialpassage is cylindrical with a frustoconical end surrounding said shaftin said other axial passage to guide liquid to the axial passage in thenozzles.

6. A centrifugal pump as defined by claim 1, wherein said expeller has acentral sleeve and a cylindrical bottom base formed with radial vanessurrounding said shaft in said other axial passage to guide liquidthrough the axial passage.

7. A centrifugal pump as defined by claim 1, wherein the first namedcasing further comprises a circular head; said shaft extending throughsaid head; and motor means operatively connected to said shaft to drivethe shaft, expeller and rotary tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,376,071 5/1945 Miess 103-1012,946,289 7/1960 Love 103-400 2,984,189 5/1961 Jekat 10388 3,336,8758/1967 Conhagen 103-88 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

